Free Web NovelThe Elf Queen... didn’t I just meet her last night?
Why is she looking for me now? Don’t tell me she’s unhappy that I’ve been eating and drinking for free these past few days—and even taking things with me—so she wants to charge me?
Thinking that, Vieya suddenly didn’t want to go. But then she reconsidered—maybe there had been progress regarding the World Tree, and she wanted to have a proper discussion with her.
And if the Elf Queen really did have something important to discuss, wouldn’t that mean she’d have to cancel spending time with her daughter this afternoon again? Especially since Jasmine had heard her say she was resting today and had even canceled her training plan on purpose to spend time with her.
“Honored Lady Vieya, if you do not wish to meet her, I can refuse on your behalf.”
Seeing that Vieya hadn’t replied for a while, Lano outside the door couldn’t quite read her thoughts and spoke again,
“We respect your decision.”
“It’s fine. Take me there.”
After thinking it over, Vieya still decided to agree.
She had already received far too many favors from the elves along the way, and in the cooperation ahead it would be unavoidable to meet the Elf Queen again. Spending more time together to understand each other was the best course of action.
As for resting, she had already slept more than ten hours and was quite satisfied. As for Jasmine... she could only let her be a little wronged this time.
After giving Isabelle some instructions regarding Jasmine, Vieya followed Lano to the palace where the Elf Queen handled state affairs.
Today, the Elf Queen’s condition was clearly worse than last night’s. Her bright eyes were filled with drowsiness, yet she still sat behind her desk, with stacks of already-processed documents laid out before her.
“Your Majesty, I have brought Lady Vieya.”
The moment they entered the great hall, Lano bowed in salute, made space for Vieya behind her, then slowly withdrew outside the hall, leaving Vieya—the monster girl—alone inside.
“Sit wherever you like,” the Elf Queen said, nodding toward Vieya.
“You’re too polite. I wonder what you called me here for this time?”
Vieya’s gaze swept across the hall before settling on a small stool beside the desk.
“This is a little stool Phoenix made herself. When she has nothing to do, she likes to sit here and watch me work. If you want to sit, you can as well.”
The Elf Queen explained, then added,
“Her craftsmanship is quite good. If she were among humans, she’d be an excellent carpenter. So don’t worry—go ahead and sit.”
Vieya clicked her tongue slightly. She hadn’t expected that big, clumsy, unreliable-looking dumb bird to actually be skilled at something like this.
Seeing Vieya’s surprised expression, the Elf Queen rarely revealed a trace of gentle warmth in her smile.
“When Aislin was little, she liked to pester Phoenix for toy knight swords and knight horses to play with. But Aislin was too young back then, and Phoenix worried she’d hurt herself, so she slowly learned carpentry.”
“But after Aislin grew up, she stopped playing with those toys and no longer clung to Phoenix. Phoenix was sad about it for a very, very long time... Later, she even went into the forest to retrieve the toys Aislin had lost or abandoned, one by one, and set aside a small room just to store them.”
“Hehe. If you’re curious about that little room, I can take you to see it.”
“Really? I can?”
“Hehe. As long as Aislin agrees. Phoenix would probably be very happy to share Aislin’s childhood stories with you,” the Elf Queen said with a gentle smile.
Childhood stories... more like childhood black history, right?
Vieya didn’t know how to respond. She simply sat down on the little stool, propping her chin up with one hand, waiting for the Elf Queen to continue.
Honestly, the Elf Queen talking to her about such family matters was far beyond her expectations. She had thought the Elf Queen would deal with her strictly in terms of official business—interests, background, lineage, who her master was, and so on.
Now it seemed the Elf Queen had no intention of probing her identity at all. Instead... she was actively trying to draw her in.
“If possible, could you tell me about Aislin’s upcoming evaluations?” Vieya thought for a moment before asking.
She decided to leave the matter of the World Tree and the resurrection ritual for the day Aislin ascended the throne. Asking now would make her seem like a parasite who only cared about herself. Help was meant to be mutual.
“The upcoming evaluations?”
The Elf Queen paused briefly, then organized her thoughts and replied,
“Actually, the ten elves remaining at this stage can all be considered outstanding individuals who have earned the clan’s recognition. The upcoming written exam, the Heart Appraisal, and the final martial contest can be regarded as a single whole.”
“The written exam was introduced from the human side. Although the Elven Forest is closed off, we still have high-ranking elves who travel outside to study, bringing back excellent knowledge and information.”
“So the written exam serves a similar purpose to those among humans—selecting elves who excel in thinking and overall strategic wisdom. As for the Heart Appraisal, it requires drinking [Elixir of Truth] at the Moon Goddess Altar and answering three questions posed by the residual images of past queens. Finally, the martial contest is a test of strength, and it carries the greatest weight among the three.”
“Under normal circumstances, as long as an elf’s written exam results aren’t too embarrassing, and they don’t get all three questions wrong before the queens’ residual images, the elf with the greatest combat power will become the victor in the end.”
So in the end, this really was an elven royal court that revered strength above all else?
Vieya was deeply shocked—but at the same time, it was unexpected yet entirely reasonable.
Moreover, she had already seen the information on the remaining ten elves. Aislin was undoubtedly the highest level among them.
Most of the other elves were around early Seventh Rank to early Eighth Rank, while only Aislin had already touched the threshold of the Ninth Rank.
Elves older than eight hundred years were not allowed to participate in the throne competition, and the advantage of several hundred years of age was utterly insignificant in the face of Aislin’s talent.
Perhaps this was exactly what Sul had meant back then—calling Aislin the most talented elf born in the clan in thousands of years, and the true value behind those words.
She was far ahead—by a landslide.
“If that’s the case, then doesn’t that mean there’s nothing I can really help Aislin with?”
Vieya frowned. Completing the task so easily—almost winning effortlessly the whole way—made her feel uneasy about accepting help from the Elf Queen later!
How about assigning me a few more tasks?
Seeming to sense the slime’s thoughts, the Elf Queen merely smiled and continued,
“So? Have you considered my suggestion of staying in our Elven Forest?”
“Nope. I’m a fickle slime—I can’t settle down and stay in the Elven Forest,” Vieya said in a scummy-girl tone, waving her hand. “But I can promise that if the Elven Forest encounters difficulties in the future, I’ll help.”
...Sigh.
The Elf Queen let out a quiet sigh in her heart. Promises ultimately couldn’t compare to a relationship forged through sharing a bed and skin-to-skin closeness. Still, the likelihood of the Holy Sword’s owner breaking her word wasn’t particularly high.
Soon, the Elf Queen changed the subject.
“Then let me tell you in advance—over twenty years ago, the World Tree protected by our elven race was once used by a certain evil dragon for rebirth and revival. Each use of such revival consumes an enormous price. Even today, the World Tree is still in a state of recovery.”
“So I hope you can form a partner relationship with my daughter. Only then, even if you leave here and return hundreds of years later, you would have legitimate grounds to enter the World Tree and use the opportunity I promised you.”
Vieya shook her head and replied with calm confidence,
“I already have preparations for that.”
Waiting out cooldowns was indeed difficult, but she had cooldown potions. Such a huge pool... if that residual spirit in the dungeon hadn’t lied to her back then, it was definitely more than enough.
The Elf Queen didn’t know where the slime’s confidence came from, but since Vieya didn’t explain, she didn’t intend to press further.
After the discussion ended, Vieya didn’t linger in the hall and disturb the Elf Queen’s rest.
Just as she reached the hall entrance, she heard the voices of Lano and Aislin talking. frёeωebɳovel.com
But as soon as Vieya walked over, their conversation ended. Lano greeted Vieya briefly, then hurried off.
For a moment, only Vieya and Aislin remained at the entrance to the hall.
“Do you have time this afternoon to walk around the city with me?” Aislin suddenly asked softly.
She had spent the entire morning buried in memorizing key points of statecraft. With her lively and restless personality, she really couldn’t endure it any longer and wanted to go out for some fresh air.
At the same time, she wanted to see how the clan members were living now. After all, no matter how much one memorized, it couldn’t compare to personally experiencing and touching reality.
“Of course,” Vieya agreed decisively, completely unaware that she’d forgotten something.
...
It was afternoon now. Sunlight filtered through scattered clouds, casting prismatic, rainbow-like rays.
After strolling around the city for a while, Vieya and Aislin followed a small path to a lush fruit grove outside the city.
Bright red fruits dotted the emerald branches like rubies, beautiful and fresh, like a delicate oil painting.
A rich, refreshing fruit fragrance filled the air, making one’s mouth water uncontrollably.
At least, the very edible slime girl’s appetite had been fully stirred.
Aislin noticed this and asked with a smile, “They’re very sweet. Want to try one?”
Vieya nodded vigorously. “I want to eat.”
Hearing that, the elven girl stepped lightly beneath the largest fruit tree. Its trunk was nearly ten meters in diameter—so thick that four or five adults couldn’t encircle it—and the fruits on it were the biggest and reddest of all.
“Yuno!”
Aislin waved and called out to a small fairy flying in the distance, one with transparent, dragonfly-like wings on her back.
Hearing her name, the palm-sized fairy turned around and fluttered over on her transparent wings, but her expression was full of panic.
“Y-Your Highness! Why are you here?!”
Yuno’s voice trembled.
By the Moon Goddess, it wasn’t that she was timid—it was # Nоvеlight # just that this princess had left her with far too terrifying a shadow in childhood.
Throwing stones at fruit, and incidentally knocking her down from the branches where she was working.
She had almost been sent to meet the Moon Goddess.
Even though there was an apology afterward, what good was that?! She had almost lost her life!
“G-Greetings... noble Princess, and this honored guest?”
Yuno bowed at a ninety-degree angle, her voice trembling as if squeezed out from between her teeth.
“No need to be nervous,” Aislin said softly, helpless.
When she was young, she really had caused trouble here—and had even been whipped hard with apple branches by her mother afterward. That memory was still vivid.
“I’m only here today to let my friend taste the sweetest fruit in the Elven Forest. Mm, I’ll pay you double the gold coins.”
Double the gold coins?!
Hearing that, Yuno’s eyes lit up immediately. She patted her chest and guaranteed,
“Don’t worry, Your Highness! I’ll make sure your friend gets to taste the sweetest fruit in our orchard!”
As soon as she finished speaking, the fairy—fired up as if injected with chicken blood—darted among the branches, searching back and forth.
A moment later, she returned, holding a deep purplish-red fruit in both arms. Its skin was smooth and flawless. She presented it to Vieya with utmost respect.
